Improvement in mowing-machines



Patented March I2, 1872l /A I Fig ,1

W. G, KENYON.

Impr-ovement in Mowing Machines.

N'o. 124,440. I G

Figj.

' NTTEE ASTATEs PATENT QEEICE.

WILLIAM G. KENYON, OF WAKEFIELD, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOWlNG-MACHINES.

Spccication forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,440, dated March 12, 1872. f

SPECIFICATION.

Nature and Objects of the Intent/ion.

This invention consists in certain improvements upon a mowing-machine for which a patent was granted to ine October l2, 1869; and relates to the mode of constructing the frame, raising' and holding the cutting-apparatus, and in the parts that hold the knives.

Description of Drawing.

General Description.

O O are two driving-wheels, turning loosely upon the axle c, but provided with ratchet- Wheels and pawls in their hubs to drive the axle when moved forward. A is a frame, cast in one piece with the box j for the gea-ring, and the bearings c c for the back part of the shoe to turn in 5 it is connected to the axle by a sleeve, c, through which the axle passes, and by bearings in the side of the boxj. B is an upper frame, havinga bearing at one side on. the sleeve c, and on the side of the boxj on the other side. It holds the seat, the devices' for raising the cutting-apparatus, and also has the pole w, to which the horses are attached, fastened to it. Ihe gear-Wheel b is loose on the axle q and meshes into a pinion, l, on the side of the wheel in, Which gears into a pinion underneath it fast on the shaft to which the,

crank-plate n is attached. Gears m lare fastened together, and turn on a stud, p, which has a passage leading from a hole on its top outside of the case to the side of the stud in the middle of the bearing of the gear-Wheels, for

the purpose of conveying oil directlyT to that spot. The crank-plate n and its pinion are fastened to a shaft that turns in the step h, which is also furnished with a passage through from the outside for oiling. D is a pipe or barrel, forming part of the shoe that holds the finger-bar, and turns in the bearings c c. A plate, f, is placed on a stud fastened to the frame B, the edge of which is grooved to receive the lifting-chain r, 011e end ot' which is fast t0 the iin ger-bar and the other to the top ot' the plate. A segment-ratchet is made in the plate, and a double pawl is putin a bearing on the frame. The short shaft to which the pawl is fastened, lla-s on its other end a small lever, t', to enable the driver to operate the pawl with the toe of his boot. A spring-catch, q, is fastened to the frame A, to catch the tinger-bar when raised, and a chain is carried up from the springto the frame vabove to control its action. 'lhe linger-bar is cast with the guardlingers on it, all in one piece, as shown in Fig. 5. The knives are fastened on the under side of the bar that holds them, and have the ledgerblades placed above them, as in my patent ot` March 28, 1871. The cap kis placed over the knife-bar, and has t-he pivots of the ledgerblades in its front edge.

The mode of operatin g the knives is the same as in my patent of October 12,1869. Gear- Wheel b has a part of a clutch on its side into Which the other part of the clutch Z which slides 'on the axle catches. A strip, n, is attached to the clutch, and has a cam in a notch at its other end furnished With a lever, s, to turn it, the cam being pivoted to a standard on the frame A. When the driver Wishes to raise the cutter-bar, he catches hold ot' the lever o and draws it toward him, until the bar is upright and catches in the spring q, or by pushing his toe under the lever t' the pawl is made to catch in the ratchet and hold the bar at Whatever height he Wishes, and when clear up the bar will catch in the spring-catch q, and the lever Will be held up by the pawl catching under a pin on the hub. When he Wishes to drop the bar, he puts his toe under the. lever t' and raises the pawl out from the pin, and by means ofthe lever o lets the bar down, the cha-in controlling the spring-catch so that the bar will drop out of the notch When down. The

lever that throws the clutch d in gear, can also be operated by the. driver Without leaving his seat. Everything that is necessary to be done in operating the machine, as throwing in mid out ot' gen1', raising und lowering the lingerbitr, oiling, &c., can be performed by the driver Without leaving his seat or letting go the reins.

What I claim as my invention is l. I claim the combination of the Springcetch q attached to the lower frame A and iiexibly connected t0 'riune B, with the lingerbzu', the plate j, the double p-Ltwl, and toe-lever i, all being arranged and connected substantially as described, so that the finger-bar will release itself from the catch when let down.

2. I claim the combinntion ot the knife-bar having the knives on its under side, with the cap covering,l the bnr, and the ledger-blades having their rear pivots in the front of the cap, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

XVM. G. KENYON. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN ARNOLD, JAMES E. ARNOLD. 

